Medinilla hybrid named &#39;Bella&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Medinilla  sp. plant named ‘BELLA’, characterized by an erect shrub plant, measuring about 50 cm in total height (when first flowering) and about 55 cm in diameter; green colored leaves, measuring about 20 cm in length and about 8 cm in width; pendulous panicles, measuring about 20 cm in length and about 15 cm in diameter, with pink (RHS 78D) flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Medinilla sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BELLA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar ofMedinilla plant, botanically known as Medinilla sp., hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘BELLA’. The genus of Medinilla belongsto the Melastomataceae family.

The new Medinilla ‘BELLA’ is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, inAssendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is todevelop a new Medinilla variety with good growing habit and attractiveinflorescence.

The new Medinilla ‘BELLA’ originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventors in 2007 in Assendelft, TheNetherlands. The female or seed parent is the Medinilla selectiondesignated ‘82954514’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is theMedinilla selection designated ‘82957015’ (unpatented). ‘BELLA’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventors in 2008, as a single floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Assendelft, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid ‘BELLA’ performed byvegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2008, in Assendelft,The Netherlands. The first ‘BELLA’ plants propagated through the use ofcuttings flowered in 2009, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and havedemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproducestrue-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘BELLA’ which in combination distinguishthis Medinilla hybrid as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Solid growth habit;

2. Erect shrub plant, measuring about 50 cm in height (above the potwhen first flowering);

3. Green colored leaves, measuring about 20 cm in length and about 8 cmin width;

4. Pendulous panicles with pink (RHS 78D) colored flowers;

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to the new Medinilla ‘BELLA’ is the Medinillamagnifica PINATUBO′ (unpatented). Plants of the new Medinilla ‘BELLA’differ from plants of Medinilla ‘PINATUBO’ primarily in leaf size, bractsize, and inflorescence color. Plants of ‘BELLA’ have smaller leaves andbracts than plants of ‘PINATUBO’. Additionally, plants of ‘BELLA’ havedarker pink inflorescence (RHS 75B) than plants of ‘PINATUBO’ (RHS 72C).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Medinilla ‘BELLA’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of‘BELLA’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical potted flowering plantof ‘BELLA’ at about 50 weeks from potting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘BELLA’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length,fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations,measurements and values describe the new Medinilla ‘BELLA’ as grown in agreenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsin a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of‘BELLA’ described is about 50 weeks from potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Medinilla sp.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘82954514’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘82957015’            (unpatented).-   Propagation: Cuttings-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 50 cm Diameter:            About 55 cm Shape: Erect shrub.        -   Growth habit.—stem.        -   Plant vigor.—good.        -   Flowering season.—from April until October.        -   Cold tolerance.—frost tender, temperatures below 5° C. may            damage plants.        -   Fragrance.—none.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity.—About 30-35.        -   Size.—Length: About 15-20 cm. Width: About 8 cm.        -   Overall shape.—elliptical.        -   Apex shape.—cuspidate.        -   Base shape.—acute.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Texture.—smooth.        -   Color.—Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing            conditions. Upper Surface: Glossy green, RHS 137A-139A Lower            Surface: Green, RHS 137C-143A.        -   Venation.—countersunk.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Shape.—Pendulous panicles.        -   Amount.—about 2-6 (depending on the size of the plant).        -   Size.—Length: About 20 cm Width: About 15 cm.        -   Color.—Pink, closest to RHS 78D.        -   Corolla.—Number: about 120 per panicle.        -   Petals.—Number: 4 per flower Length: 12 mm Width: 8 mm            Overall Shape: obovate, asymmetrical Apex Shape: obtuse            Color: Upper surface: pink, closest to RHS 78D Lower            surface: pink, closest to RHS 78D Sepals: growth together,            enclosing the ovary. Color: red purple, closest to RHS 57C.        -   Bracts.—Quantity: 4 per crown Arrangement: verticillate            Size: Length: about 22 mm Width: about 13 mm Overall shape:            elliptical.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamen.—Number: 10 per flower Length: 6 mm Diameter: 1 mm            Color: light yellow, closest to RHS 11 C.        -   Anther.—Length: 10 mm Color: violet, closest to RHS 87B,            with a yellow base.        -   Pollen.—Amount: not visible.        -   Gynoecium.—        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower Length: 20 mm.        -   Stigma.13 Width: <1 mm Color: white, too small to qualify            RHS value.        -   Style.13 Length: 17 mm Color: white, closest to RHS 155C.        -   Ovary.13 Shape: round Position: inferior Length: 8 mm            Diameter: 6 mm Color: white, closest to RHS 155C.-   Seeds: No seeds produced-   Fruit: No fruit produced-   Disease/pest resistance: No observations made-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No observations made

1. A new and distinct Medinilla plant named ‘BELLA’, as illustrated and described herein. 